Sep. 11, 2002 By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

The Palestinian Authority's security forces are on top alert Wednesday in an attempt to prevent any form of celebration of the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

According to information received by some PA officials, Palestinian activists in a number of cities and villages are planning celebrations marking this event. Some Palestinian journalists have been told that celebrations would take place in the Gaza Strip and in West Bank cities where the IDF lifts the curfew.

The PA fears that such celebrations would cause grave damage to its image and portray the Palestinian people as supporters of terrorism and Osama bin Laden.

Last year, PA security agents confiscated tapes from cameramen who covered pro-bin Laden rallies in Nablus. Similar outbursts of joy took place in east Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jenin, and the Gaza Strip.

Many Palestinian journalists and crewmen working with foreign networks said they have been warned by the PA not to help in the coverage of any celebration. The PA threatened to arrest any Palestinian who defies these instructions.

In the Jenin refugee camp, posters of bin Laden were removed from walls by municipality workers. Some PA officials said they are planning visits to US officials here to express their strong condemnation of the September 11 atrocities.

Another group of Palestinian activists is planning to stage a silent sit-in strike outside the US Consulate in Jerusalem as a show of solidarity with the American people.

Although there has been a significant reduction in the Tanzim's operations in Samaria, terrorist organizations are still trying to carry out attacks, including large-scale attacks like the one thwarted near Kibbutz Kfar Glickson, near Zichron Ya'acov, this past weekend, a senior IDF Intelligence officer told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday.

There has been a reduction in support for terrorist attacks among Palestinians and in the motivation of suicide attackers, the officer said. He said the Palestinians are beginning to realize the heavy price they are paying in the international arena for the terrorist attacks.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2002